BCCI has decided to change the timings of IPL,Teams oppose That

Johansburg: The Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises are upset that the BCCI has decided to change the timings of the daily matches - by pushing the 4 pm game to a 5.30 pm start and by bringing forward the 8 pm game to 7 pm at the request of the broadcaster.

Three franchises separately told TOI that "we heard it from the media about the match timings being changed. The least the BCCI could've done is engaged with the teams before taking a decision like that."

The league's new broadcaster - Star India - is well within its rights to call for a change in match timings if it suits viewer interests better. However, the fault here clearly lies with the Governing Council of the BCCI in not discussing it with the franchises who happen to be 50 percent stakeholders in the new IPL revenue model.

"The franchises are not in agreement with this proposal and will take it up with the IPL. They are in fact quite not very happy that something as important as this hasn't even discussed with them," sources familiar with developments said.

The broadcaster, nevertheless, will be most happy with the governing council accepting their request for the change. An early start will mean an early conclusion to the matches in the night and therefore any game stretching as far as it does will still receive prime time coverage.

Meanwhile, the IPL chairman Rajiv Shukla made it clear that at this stage, it had only been proposed by the official broadcaster of the league, to hold the matches this season at7 pm. "The IPL Governing Council considered the request of the broadcaster to have a 7pm match. The final decision will be taken after the taking the views of the other stakeholders," Shukla told TOI.

"Star Sports is of the view that the matches need to start early to ensure that the people in the interiors watch the action too. It wil improve the ratings," said a GC official.